Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“I never will again, sister,” he whispers in her hair. After planting a kiss on top of her head, he climbs out of the bed.
Standing tall, Rowan faces me with a wide smile.
“Look at you, Caz,” he breathes, looking me from head to toe. “I can thank you for this, right? Coming back to life and all?”
“Nah. Don’t thank me,” I say. “You’ve done more than enough for us. You risked your life for ours, Row. Reviving you was the least I could do.”
Rowan’s eyes glisten as he presses his lips.
“Come here, you goof.” With a proud smile, I reel him in and hug him tight.
I’ve lost so many people, but if I’d lost Rowan—someone who has always been like a brother to me—I don’t know what I’d have done. If one person is taken from this family, we’ll never be the same.
The rest of the clan joins our hug, and I drop an arm around Willow, planting a kiss on her forehead.
“To the ends?” Killian asks.
“To the ends,” they chant.
A wave of heat wraps around us all, and I realize it’s love. Love protecting them. Love keeping them close. My love.
“To the ends, the beginnings, and the impenetrable bond of the Blackwater Clan,” I say. “I love you all.”
NINETY-FOUR
CAZ
Danica is laid up in a tent that flickers with candlelight. Most of the day has passed, and she’s finally stable enough to speak.
She was carted away when she was sliced during the war. Mythics have been doing all they can to heal her, but nothing is working.
Just like Rowan, she was clawed by one of Selah’s poisonous creatures.
Willow walks in ahead of me, and I stop in the center of the tent, watching as my mate crouches next to Danica on the cot.
Danica wheezes, her face pale and her hands shaking. Her eyes crack open, shining beneath the flickering lights. When she sees Willow, a faint smile appears.
“Willow,” she whispers.
“Danica. Hi.” Willow clings to her hand and forces a smile at her. I know it’s forced because I feel her heartache. “You look like shit,” she laughs.
Danica laughs too, then winces. “Yeah. I feel it.”
Willow peers over her shoulder at me. “We can heal her, right?”
“I believe I can.” I scan Danica from head to toe. “But I don’t think healing is what she wants.”
“What?” Willow frowns, putting her attention on Danica again. Her eyes glow brighter than the candle flames as she sweeps her gaze up and down the length of her. “Danica.” Her voice is firm. “Let us heal you.”
Swallowing, Danica squeezes Willow’s hand. “I did my part, Willow.”
“No. You can still live,” Willow counters.
Danica winces before saying, “It’s not really living without him.”
Willow’s emotions wash over me like a hot flood. She sinks lower on her knees, batting her tears with steady blinks.
“Danica, please,” she pleads.
I look away as an ache forms in my chest. This one doesn’t come from my mate. It’s mine.
“There is nothing left for me here, Willow. My mate is gone and will never be reborn again. I’m no longer needed. And look at you,” Danica breathes, her teeth glistening as she smiles. “You’re full of magnificent power and hope. You’ll be okay, and that’s all Warren ever wanted for you.”
Willow takes Danica’s hand into both of hers, holding on tightly as a stream of tears skid down her cheeks.
“I was thinking about pouring Warren’s ashes in the ocean,” Willow says, sniffling. “That way he’s always drifting through Vakeeli. At least come with us to pour them,” she pleads.
Danica’s eyes light up just a bit. “That’s a good idea.”
Pleased, Willow pushes to a stand and moves back.
“All right. Up you get.” I pick Danica up carefully and carry her frail body out of the tent.
“I bet you’re loving this, aren’t you?” she asks, clinging to me with the little strength she has left. “Seeing me weak?”
“Not at all,” I chuckle. “I’d much rather put up with you using that katana to slice through my bullets than to see you like this.”
She offers a weak laugh.
“You sure you don’t want me to heal you?” I ask in a quiet voice.
She shakes her head. “I’ve already made up my mind.”
“Very well.” I’ll respect that.
I glance over my shoulder, watching Willow vanish. She’s gone for a split second before appearing at my side again with Warren’s gold urn cradled in her hands and a blanket hanging over her forearm.
The ocean roars as the sky darkens. There’s just enough light for us to see.
Willow spreads the blanket, and I lay Danica on top of it.
“Anything you want to say?” Willow asks her, sitting cross-legged at her side.
Danica is quiet a moment, staring at the ocean. A tear slips from the corner of her eye as she draws in a shaky breath and exhales the same.
“I just wish I’d told him one last time how amazing he was,” she murmurs. “And that every second without him is meaningless. That I love him so much, and if I ever get the chance to meet him in another life, I’ll hang on ten times as much.”